Novak Djokovic clearly stated ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics that he is not close to retiring when talking about his colleagues.
As one of the oldest players on the ATP Tour, the Serbian was inevitably asked about his retirement, even if not his, but his colleagues, as some of his peers are already ending their tennis careers. However, when it comes to Djokovic, the question seems misplaced.
The 37-year-old doesn't look like a player who is close to retiring in any way, given that he will enter the 2024 Paris Olympics as the No. 1 seed. This topic came up during Djokovic's press availability when the Serbian was asked about Andy Murray.
The Brit will retire after the Olympic Games in Paris, and as players who spent many years together on the ATP Tour, Djokovic naturally feels a certain way about the fellow legend leaving the sport.
He called Murray a true legend of the sport and wished him the best possible farewell at a competition where he left an incredible legacy with two gold medals in singles.
"I hope that he will have the best possible farewell at his last competitive match for him at the Olympics. He is a legend of our sport. He's been an incredibly important player for tennis globally."
Comparing their two careers is a good way to understand why Murray is retiring and why Djokovic dismissed it for himself. Murray has not been playing that well recently; his body is not holding up that well anymore either, which is in total contrast with Djokovic, whose body still seems to be in perfect condition.
He's also playing at a high level, demonstrated by his recent trip to the 2024 Wimbledon Championships final. He didn't win it, but still produced a great effort to place better than any of the other players not named Carlos Alcaraz.
There is a clear difference in where he is in his career compared to someone like Murray and Rafael Nadal, who have both struggled a lot. Djokovic is still capable of playing at a high level and still wants to compete, which is why he once again reiterated that he's not considering retiring anytime soon.
"I don't have the retirement close in my mind, to be honest, even though I know a lot of people would love me to retire. Of course, the end is nearer than the beginning. I know that, but I still enjoy competition, and I'll keep until I don't enjoy it anymore."
He knows that he's closer to the end than the beginning, and it's true, but the end doesn't have to come this year or next year. As long as his body remains relatively healthy and he keeps playing at a high level, there is no need for him to retire.
Motivation does play a factor, but he still seems motivated enough. That can change at any minute, and potentially winning gold could diminish the overall motivation because, apart from that, he won it all.
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